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Nine Things You Should Know About Mood Music

24 April 2018

Mood Music is sharp, provocative and funny; only two hours long, leaving time afterwards to debate whose side you are on

It is about the ‘music business’ and the affect commercialism can have on the artists who pour their heart and soul into their work: ‘The music industry isn’t about healing heartbreak and vulnerability. It’s about selling it’

It focuses on an up-and-coming female singer songwriter and an experienced producer who are arguing over the rights to a song. Their relationship is dissected by their therapists and solicitors – a situation we regularly see played out in real-life tabloid magazines and newspapers

The writer, Joe Penhall, well known for his new writing work – has won two Olivier awards: Best New Play for Blue/Orange at the National Theatre and Best New Musical for The Kinks’ Musical Sunny Afternoon. He also wrote the hugely popular Netflix drama Mindhunter

Joe Penhall and Roger Michell, the director, are long time collaborators, working together on award-winning play Blue/Orange and Landscape with Weapon at the National Theatre and Birthday at the Royal Court and the film/ screenplay of Ian McEwan’s Enduring Love. Roger also directed Notting Hill and My Cousin Rachel.

Joe Penhall’s first job was as a music journalist. By the time he was 22 he’d switched to news journalism but has continued to maintain ties with the music industry. He worked with Nick Cave on his film The Road, and collaborated with Massive Attack arranger Greg Pruess on the music to his BBC 2 series Moses Jones.

The cast includes Ben Chaplin (Consent, National Theatre, Farewell to the Theatre,Hampstead Theatre, Game On);Pip Carter (Posh, West End, The Crown); Kurt Egyiawan (Othello, The Globe, Season in the Congo, Young Vic);Seána Kerslake (King of the Castle, Druid Theatre Company, ‘Star of Tomorrow’ by Screen International) ; Jemma Redgrave (A Midsummer Night’s Dream, West End, Love & Friendship, Doctor Who; and Neil Stuke (Grace Note, The Old Vic, Blue/Orange, West End, Doctor Foster)

Tickets start at £12

Must end 16 Jun. With a limited eight week run, don’t miss your chance to see it!